Connector with back-up power via data link connector

1 . An off-board power supply, comprising:

a plug engageable with an on-board data link connector; and

a power source for supplying electrical power to an on-board electronic component via the plug and the on-board data link connector.

2 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the data link connector is a J1962 connector.

3 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:

a positive contact of the power source is electrically connected to a first pin in the J1962 connector; and

a negative contact of the power source is electrically connected to a second pin in the J1962 connector.

4 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:

the first pin of the J1962 connector is pin 4 ; and

the second pin of the J1962 connector is pin 16 .

5 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the plug mates with the J1962 connector.

6 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 1 , further including:

a cable electrically connecting the plug and the power source.

7 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the cable includes:

a first electrical conductor connecting a first pin in the plug to a positive terminal of the power source; and

a second electrical conductor connecting a second pin in the plug to a ground terminal of the power source.

8 . The off-board power supply as set forth in claim 7 , further including:

a first fastener electrically connecting the first conductor to the positive terminal; and

a second fastener electrically connecting the second conductor to the ground terminal.

9 . A portable back-up power supply system, comprising:

a data link socket on a vehicle;

a connector engageable with the data link socket; and

a power source, electrically connected to the connector, for supplying electrical power to an electronic component on the vehicle via the connector and the data link socket when a primary power source on the vehicle is interrupted.

10 . The portable back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the data link socket is a J1962 connector.

11 . The portable back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the connector mates with the data link socket.

12 . The portable back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein:

a positive terminal of the power source communicates with the electronic component via a first pin of the socket; and

a negative terminal of the power source communicates with the electronic component via a second pin of the socket.

13 . The portable back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein:

the first pin is pin 16 of the socket; and

the second pin is pin 4 of the socket.

14 . The portable back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 9 , further including:

a first removable fastener electrically connecting a positive terminal of the power source to the connector; and a second removable fastener electrically connecting a ground terminal of the power source to the connector.

15 . A back-up power supply system, comprising:

a data link connector on a vehicle;

a power source for supplying electrical power to an electronic component on the vehicle via the data link connector; and

means for electrically connecting the power source to the data link connector.

16 . The back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the means for electrically connecting includes:

a first electrical conductor releasably secured to both a positive terminal of the power source and to a first electrical pin of the data link connector; and

a second electrical conductor releasably secured to both a ground terminal of the power source and to a second electrical pin of the data link connector.

17 . The back-up power supply system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein:

the data link connector is a J1962 connector;

the first pin is pin 16 of the data link connector; and

the second pin is pin 4 of the data link connector.

18 . A back-up power supply system, comprising:

a data link connector on a vehicle;

means for supplying electrical power to an electronic component on the vehicle via the data link connector; and

means for electrically connecting the power source to the data link connector.

19 . A method for supplying back-up power to an electronic component on a vehicle, the method comprising:

connecting a plug to a data link connector on a vehicle, the data link connector being electrically connected to the electronic component;

disconnecting a primary power source from the electronic component; and

supplying power from a back-up power source to the electronic component via the plug and the data link connector.

20 . The method for supplying back-up power to an electronic component on a vehicle as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the electrically connecting the back-up power source to the plug includes:

removably connecting an electric coupler to the back-up power source, the coupler being electrically connected to plug.

21 . The method for supplying back-up power to an electronic component on a vehicle as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the data link connector is a J1962 connector, the connecting including:

electrically connecting a first electrical conductor of the plug, which is electrically connected to a positive terminal of the back-up power source, to a pin 16 of the data link connector; and

electrically connecting a second electrical conductor of the plug, which is electrically connected to a ground terminal of the back-up power source, to a pin 4 of the data link connector.

22 . The method for supplying back-up power to an electronic component on a vehicle as set forth in claim 19 , further including:

electrically connecting a back-up power source to the plug.